416 INSECTA. 



FAMILY V. 



EUPODA. 



Our fifth family of the tetramerous Coleoptera is composed of 

 Insects, the first of which so closely approach the last Longicornes 

 that they were confounded both by Linnaeus and GeoflTroy, and the 

 last are so closely allied to the Chrysomelae, the type of the follow- 

 ing family, that the first of those naturalists places them in that ge- 

 nus. The organs of manducation present the same affinities. Thus 

 in the first, the ligula is membranous, bifid or bilobate, as in the 

 Longicornes; their maxillae also greatly resemble those of these 

 latter; but in the last this ligula is almost square or rounded, and 

 analogous to that of the Cyclica. 



The maxillary lobes, however, are membranous, or but slightly 

 coriaceous, whitish or yellowish; the external one is widened near 

 the extremity, &c. The posterior thighs are strongly inflated in a 

 great many, and hence the denomination of the family. 



All these Insects have wings, and are found on the stems or leaves 

 of various plants, but, so far as regards a great number of species 

 that inhabit France, on those of the Liliacere particularly. The 

 larvae of some — the Donacise — attack the internal part of the roots 

 of aquatic plants, on which we find the perfect Insect. Those of 

 several others live exposed, but they cover themselves with matters 

 with which they form a sort of case or scabbard, like that of the 

 Cassidae. 



We will divide this family into two tribes: 



The first, that of the Sageides, is composed, as its name indi- 

 cates, of the genus 



Sagra. 



The mandibles terminate in a sharp point. The ligula is profoundly emar- 

 ginate or bilobate. The Sagrse properly so called, originally designated 

 by the name oi Alurnx, are exclusively confined to certain parts of southern 

 Africa, Ceylon and China. Their palpi are terminated by an ovoid joint, 

 the divisions of the ligula are short, the thorax is cylindrical, the antennae 

 are almost filiform, longer than the head and thorax, with their inferior 

 joints shorter than the others, and the four anterior tibiae tolerably thick, 

 but slightly elongated, angular and straight. These Insects have a uniform 



